Improvement in valves for melodeons



C" anni 5 @gaten l @time g EDGAR A. JONES AND JULIUS BIDWELL, OF STURGIS, MICHIGAN. Laim Para: No. 83,971, dated Novenwer 1o, 1868.

MROVEMENT IN VALVES FOR MELODEONS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making paxt of the lame.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDGAR A. J ONES and JULIUS A. BIDWELL, of Sturgis, in the county of St. Joseph, and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Valves of Melodeons or other reed-instruments; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, refer ence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of our invention consists in providingr the spring which keeps the valve to its sea-t with an intermediate wedge-shaped bearer, slotted on its upper edge,

where it bears upon the valve, for the insertion of a staple, whereby its seat is better retained, and lateral play prevented when bearing upon the transverselygrooved recess upon`the lower portion of the valve, as will be morefully explained.

Our invention further consists in securing thc rear poltion ofthe valve-spring (which is peculiarly' formed, as will be particularly set forth,) to its seat by a screw, so as thereby to adjust its pressure upon the valve through the bearer, thus making the touch heavier or lighter by regulatingr the screw.

In the drawings,

VFigure l is a perspective view, in which the valve and its seat are shown in an inverted position, for the purpose of more clearly representing our invent-ion.

To the valve-seat B, the valve A is firmly pressed by the spring D coiled around the regulating-screw E, said coil being suliiciently large to permit the necessary play of the spring. The forward part of the spring rests in a circular recess, 7:, made in the lower part of the wedgeshaped intermediate bearer C, which is slotted in its 'upperportion to receive the bent wire or staple h. The

staple h is fastened to the lower side of the valve A.

lhe lower portion of the valve A has a 'transverse groove or recess, as shown at g, in which is seated the upper part of the bearer C, more securely kept to its place by the staple h.

F represents the guide or standard projection or pin, which is placed at the forward end of the valve-seat B, and which -serves to keep the valves inA position.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the intermedizafceA bearer C.

By our invention, the friction, caused by the pressure of the spring in the longitudinal recesses in the lower side of the valve, asin one form in ordinary use, or the friction, and, consequently, retardingmotion occasioned by the sliding of the slotted backward end of the valve against the pin or projection against which it plays, in ,another form in common use, is prevented. A rmahd uniform pressure upon the valve, causing it tobe evenly held to its seat, is also secured.

By the oscillation of the intermediate piece or bearer C, the movement of the valve is much more prompt and free, friction being avoided, and lightness of touch to a greater degree attained.

The zuljustlnent of the spring circularly, instead of at right angles, prevents the liability to breakage consequent upon bending in one place whenever the valve ,is moved, and at the same time, it being secured to the screw E, renders the regulation o f the pressure upon the valve certain and convenient.

Vhat we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The bearer G, constructed as described, with its lower edge slotted to it over and play upon the staple h in the under side of the valve, whereby the lateral movement of the bearer is prevented as herein` described, for the purpose specified.

` 2. The spring D, when formed as described, together with the regulating-screw E, when employed for the purposes and uses set forth.

EDGAR A. JONES. J ULIUS A. BIDWELL. Witnesses:

IsAAc D. TOLL, G. ADELL BIDWELL. 

